The Palestine Chronology

PLO-Israel security comm. resumes talks in Cairo to settle details of Gaza-Jericho autonomy plan.  Civilian affairs comm. also expected to resume sessions.  (MENA 2/21 in FBIS 2/22; CSM 2/23)

UN holds talks in Geneva with France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom on training Palestinian police force.  (MM 2/24)

FM Peres, speaking to Knesset Economics Comm. names Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Tunisia as Arab countries working to end Arab boycott of Israel.  Peres observes "the Arab boycott is the Arab world's problem, no less than ours."  (MM 2/21; Qol Yisra`el 2/21 in FBIS 2/24)

Syrian Interior M Muhammad Harba, speaking to Damascus conference on drug trafficking, says Syria rejects Israeli proposal for secret negotiations, calls Israeli proposal for referendum on Golan Heights an obstacle to peace.  (MM 2/21)

Settlers block West Bank roads with rocks, burning tires in continuing protests over killing of Zipporah Sasson.  Blockade coincides with "rush hour" of Palestinians going to work in Israel.  IDF prevents clashes by turning away Palestinian cars before they reach settler roadblocks.  Ballistics tests reportedly link weapon in Sasson killing to killing of Shin Bet officer previous week and 4 Israelis in 12/93.  (MM 2/21; CSM 2/22)

Lawyer for imprisoned Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin says his client's "life is under threat," but Israeli Prisons Authority spokesman says "there is no deterioration" in Yasin's condition.  Yasin is serving 15-yr. sentence in prison nr. Netanya for ordering killings of collaborators.  (MM 2/21)

Hamas issues leaflet warning Druze, Bedouin citizens of Israel to leave IDF "which has killed the sons of your people."  Hamas claims IDF replacing Jewish units in Gaza with Druze- and Bedouin-manned units.  (MM 2/21)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Taba agreement, condition for Egyptian-Israeli talks, incomplete, jeopardizing Peres-Mubarak talks, scheduled for 9/11 (WP 9/10). Spanish F.M. Francisco Ordonez visits Israel, stresses Spain's commitment to Palestinian right to self-determination during dinner hosted by F.M. Shamir; calls for international conference on Mideast (FBIS 9/11).

Arab World: Frank Reed, American director of private West Beirut school, is kidnapped by Islamic Jihad in West Beirut (WP 9/10).

Other Countries: U.S. Sec. of Defense Weinberger says Karachi Pan Am hijack-massacre looks like work of Abu Nidal, but Defense Department says there is "no connection to Syria or Lebanon here" (WP 9/10).

Military Action

Arab World: IDF warplanes again strike at alleged headquarters of Palestinian Popular Struggle Front near Sidon; at least three are killed (MEI 9/12).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Spain's first ambassador to Israel, Pedro Lopez Aguirre de Goa, arrives to take up his post [JP 4/7]. Twenty black union leaders from South Africa are attending a course at the Histradrut's Afro-Asian Institute in Tel Aviv [JP 4/6]. They are receiving training in social organizing and economic leadership skills, in preparation for power sharing in the event of a transition from white rule [WP, LAT 4/8].

Arab World: Syrian-sponsored cease-fire takes effect around Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, ending 10 days of fighting between Amal and Palestinian fighters; at least 46 have been killed [BG 4/7].

Other Countries: West Germany's defense minister arrives in Israel for 4-day visit [JP 4/7]. American Israel Public Affairs Committee begins 27th Annual Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. [JTA 4/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Citizens' Rights Movement holds press conference, claims it has evidence that dozens of signatures of West Bank landowners have been forged on land sale documents. A letter from the CRM and the contents of their file on the topic have been handed over to Attorney General Yitzhak Zamir. An unpublished section of the State Comptroller's 1983 annual report said as much as 12,500 acres in the West Bank may have been acquired illegally [PI 8/23]. Israeli Cabinet decides to proceed with development and production of the Lavi jet fighter [JP 8/23]. Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin states Israel is actively looking for American partner to help produce the plane UP 8/22]. The Bank of Israel announces Irael's foreign debt decreased by $690 million between September 1984 and March 1985 UP 8/22].

Arab World: Egypt vows to "spare no effort" in its search for the assassins who killed an Israeli diplomat yesterday [CT 8/22]. Several suspects are arrested. Security at the Israeli embassy istightened [JP 8/22].

Other Countries: Spain announces it will establish formal diplomatic relations with Israel before autumn 1986 [JTA 8/23]. The Daily World reports on the New Jewish Agenda conference held in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the end of July, states it took a strong stand on "mutual recognition by Israel and the Palestinian people of the rights of each to national self-determination" [DW 8/21].

Military Action

Arab World: Shelling in Beirut continues; Syria indicates readiness to take provisional steps toward achieving a cease-fire. At least 42 are reported killed; Beirut airport is closed because of shelling [WP, NYT 8/22].